Fleury's posts filled in Pelham

By Mary Carey
Staff Writer

Published on January 16, 2009

PELHAM - Police Chief Edward Fleury is expected to step down as the town's representative to the Hampshire Council of Governments, the Board of Selectmen learned Monday.

Selectman Edward Martin told the panel that Fleury recently informed him that he would resign from the council.

The chief has been on sick leave since the Oct. 26 shooting death of a child at a gun exposition co-sponsored by C.O.P. Firearms & Training, his private company, and the Westfield Sportsman's Club.

Selectmen would have to appoint another person to the position, until a new representative could be elected in the next townwide election.

Lydia King, administrative assistant for the Hampshire COG, said Tuesday that Fleury had not resigned yet.

Selectmen appointed Acting Police Chief Gary Thomann to three other positions that Fleury filled in the town: contact for the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency, animal control administrator and Civil Defense contact.

Selectmen also met in a closed door session Monday, citing the exception to the Open Meeting law allowing governmental bodies to discuss strategy with respect to negotiations with a non-union personnel.

Fleury, the Westfield Sportsman's Club, Carl Giuffre, of Hartford, Conn., and Domenico Spano, of New Milford, Conn., were arraigned in Springfield in December on involuntary manslaughter charges in connection with the death of Christopher Bizilj, of Ashford, Conn. The 8 year old lost control of a 9mm micro submachine gun that he tried to fire at a pumpkin during a supervised shoot.

Fleury and the club have also been charged with four counts of furnishing a weapon to a minor. All have entered not-guilty pleas.

Mary Carey can be reached at mary.carey@att.net.